Press Releases, 2/15/2011

Minister Väyrynen to make an export promotion trip to Angola

Press release 45/2010
15 February 2011

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen will make a visit to Angola on 16–17 February. This will be the first ministerial visit from Finland to Angola. The destination is the capital city, Luanda. The minister will be accompanied by a 20-person business delegation widely representing Finnish expertise. The delegation includes representatives of companies, for example, in the mechanical engineering, natural resources, logistics and health sectors.

The aim of the visit is to promote Finnish trade with and investment in Angola and to reinforce and extend awareness of Finnish expertise in Angola.

The visit is hosted by Minister of Commerce Maria Idalina de Oliveira Valente. During his trip Väyrynen will also meet with other central ministers and with President José Eduardo dos Santos. A business forum for Finnish and Angolan companies will be organized in connection with the trip.

Angola is one of the world’s fastest growing economies, mainly as a result of the increased production of oil. Exports from Finland to Angola have increased many times over in the past few years, but the volume is still modest. Angola’s enormous reconstruction process and efforts to diversify the economy create good preconditions for increasing trade. Minister Väyrynen’s trip is the first export and trade promotion trip made from Finland to Angola.